ML69365941

ML69365951

ML69365961

1

Small storm petrel. White underneath with black and white underwings. Dark around the eye bordered in white. Long legs trailing behind body. The bird appeared glued to the surface heading into the wind only moving to bound through the water with it's legs in tell tale "pogo stick" fashion. Came in to the slick at 6:52am from the southwest. Detection at this depth continues to illustrate that this species seems to be more connected to water temps than any particular water depth.

ML69363701

ML69363711

ML69363721

21

Large storm petrel showing warmer tones throughout. Bold buffy carpal bars extend all the way to the leading edge of the wing. Deep forked tail and small "V" shaped white rump patch, often showing a dark central vein. Slow and steady numbers from the time our slick was set till mid morning. While expected at this location and season, today's Leach's kept making appearances till mid morning allowing extended sunlit study. There was some variation in intensity and color of carpal bars on a few (more cool in tonality). The strong wind was reducing their acrobatic flight style and some Leach's would look like Band-rumped Storm Petrels in head on approach.

ML69364721

ML69364761

ML69364771

53

Large storm petrel. Cooler gray/brown toned with varying degrees of a pale gray to brownish carpal bar. Smaller than Leach's and dissolving before reaching the leading edge. Squared off tail and narrow band of white across the rump, only slightly bending around the side of the tail. Some were actively shearing in the strong winds. The increased number of trips to the shelf edge are showing this species to be expected and in modest numbers.

ML69366261

ML69366281

ML69366291

3

Large pterodroma. Dark backed with light collar and broad white uppertail. Underside gleaming white with dark bar across wings. Small dark cap and dark bulbous bill.The first petrel arrived at 9:08 once we had drifted into a pocket of 77.8 degree water. Sightings at 9:26, 9:29, 9:44, 9:48 with photographs showing 2 of these were duplicates. All birds appeared to be "white-faced."